3 Charged In Two Local Human Trafficking Cases

Howard County police say they have charged three people with human trafficking and other charges in two unrelated cases in Howard County.

According to police, in the first situation, officers responded to a call Oct. 3 for woman who had been assaulted.

Police say a 24-year-old woman, who has not been identified, met with detectives at a fire station in Sykesville where she had gone to seek assistance. She was suffering from obvious injuries to her face and neck, but did not require medical treatment.

The woman reported to police that she had been beaten by a man she identified as her pimp, police identified as 32-year-old Craig Okeido Anderson.

The victim told police for two years Anderson has made her perform sex acts with various men in various states for money. She reported that he forced her to turn over all the money directly to him and assaulted her regularly. She also reported that he had engaged at least two other women in the same activity and posted ads on the website Backpage.com to solicit customers.

According to authorities, the victim gave a detailed description of Anderson and his vehicle. Police later him found in at a hotel in Anne Arundel County and arrested him in a traffic stop.

In a search of a second vehicle owned by Anderson, police say an assault rifle and loaded magazine were found concealed in the lining of the trunk. He faces numerous charges of human trafficking, prostitution and assault, and is being held at the Howard County Detention Center on $75,000 bond. Police said additional charges are pending.

In the second case, a 24-year-old woman walked into an Elkridge gas station Friday, called police and reported she had been kidnapped by a man and women three days earlier in Rhode Island. The victim, who police say will not be identified, told authorities that the couple had befriended her and offered her money to help them sell various items.

She said she agreed, but when she got into their car, they drove her to Connecticut. The victim reported that the man, later identified as 29-year-old Gary Eugene Maddox, of Providence, R.I., told her she would have to have sex with customers for money. He threatened to harm or kill her if she didnÆt comply. The female suspect, police identified as 27-year-old Amina R. Philip, of Providence, took photos of the victim and posted them in ads on Backpage.com.

The victim was forced to have sex with men in various states and turn over all the money to Maddox and Philip.

Police say officers found a black Mercedes with Rhode Island tags described by the victim as the suspectsÆ vehicle in the Elkridge area and made a traffic stop. Police say Philip and Maddox were in the car and were arrested. Each of them were charged with multiple human trafficking and prostitution offenses. Maddox also was charged with kidnapping.

Both are being held at the Howard County Detention Center, Philip on $750,000 bond and Maddox on $1 million bond. Police said their booking photos will not be released due to an ongoing investigation.